I call the meeting to order.
Welcome, everyone, to the 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, as we continue our study on developing a national conservation plan.
I want to welcome each of the witnesses with us today.
I'm going to share with members of the committee and the witnesses the framework of our study, the scope of the study, and what the questions and comments should consider. We had some issues in our last meeting when there was a little lack of clarity as to what the scope was.
The six questions are: what should be the purpose of the NCP; what should be the goals of the NCP; what guiding principles should govern an NCP; what conservation priorities should be included in an NCP; what should be the implementation priorities; and what consultation process should the minister consider using when developing the NCP?
Again, thank you so much to the witnesses for being here. I understand that National Chief Shawn Atleo will have to leave a little bit early, so we will allow National Chief Atleo to go first.
Each witness group has up to ten minutes, and that will be followed by some questions.
We will begin with National Chief Atleo, if you would proceed. Thank you.